On 9 March 2013, the Royal Thai Embassy held a series of special events called the “Textiles of the Two Lands” to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 80th Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand and to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the Establishment of Thailand-Myanmar Diplomatic Relations.

The first event held in the morning at Junction Square, Yangon was the Seminar on “Thailand and Myanmar Traditional Textiles: Hidden Treasures, Shared Wisdoms”. Daw Sandar Khin, Deputy Minister for Culture, presided over the opening ceremony and gave a speech stating the close relations between both countries with the similarities of the culture the best linkage between the peoples. H.E. Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata further emphasized that the beauty of weaving textiles strengthens the strong bond of friendship from the past to present through the similarities and shared values. U Tin Win, Myanmar Textile Historian, presented in depth facts of the textiles development in Myanmar, while Mr. Suttirat Kaewaporn, curator of the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, shared Her Majesty’s dedication to the preservation of Thai textiles throughout the country for over 30 years since 1976 when Her Majesty established the SUPPORT Foundation to encourage the production and to assure the preservation of traditional Thai handicrafts.

In parallel to this, an exhibition on traditional textiles from Ajarn Paothong Thongchuar and Mogok Pauk Pauk were displayed to the public from 8-10 March 2013. Rare and ancient textiles of over a century were displayed from collections of the two well-known Thai and Myanmar designers.

In the evening of 9 March 2013, H.E. U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, presided over the Textiles of the Two Lands Charity Gala Dinner held at Chatrium Royal Lake Hotel, Yangon. The charity gala dinner, which nearly 400 distinguished Thai and Myanmar guests joined, was filled with the mixture of traditional and modern performances and fashion show. The highlight of the event was the exchange of textiles designed by Ajarn Paothong and Mogok Pauk Pauk to illustrate the ties and bond of friendship between both countries through textiles. This event aimed also to raise fund for the Myanmar Red Cross Society’s humanitarian missions throughout the country.

This event is the commencing activity to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Thailand-Myanmar diplomatic relations.